Headband/Footband (also header/footer in binding terms): A strip of embroidered cloth at the end (top/bottom) of the spine, extending beyond the book block. Optional ALA element included in Gregath deluxe binding. Now available as upgrade in color hard binding.

Hinge In: A paper or cloth strip may be adhered along the binding edge of the a page, or pages, to be added after the book has been bound, so that the strip extends beyond the binding edge. This can then be “hinged” into a “finished” book by pasting up the part of the paper or cloth strip that extends beyond the addition, and adhering the strip to the binding edge of a sheet (or leaf) in the text block. This may also be used to change a given published page: cut the page to be replaced out of the existing book leaving as wide a bound paper strip as the binding margin will allow; follow instructions as above or – trim the replacement page to fit the published book (with extra paper to overlap bound strip); using an archival quality media, attach replacement page to bound strip.

Do you have something (format) you use over and over again from MS Office – maybe with just a little bit of tweaking? Consider making the format (blank without personalized information) into a template. In your MS program, make a file that contains all the repetitive format and information. When you save as (save if not already saved), click the down arrow by format (under file name) and choose template (word template, excel template, etc.). To make it easier to use, save it where your other templates for that program are saved – or make a dedicated template file folder that is easy to find.

If sending a hard copy manuscript, we suggest setting all margins (including any headers and footers) on a 8.5×11″ book at 1″. Generally a book printed from this would contain a 1.25″ binding/interior margin, and a .75″ trim/outside margin. “Fixing” the margins in this way is a free service we offer to make it easier on the manuscript preparation person.

Can you “cheat” the 1″ margin on a smaller format book and still have a pleasing balance of print and white space? Margins that leave less white space don’t have quite as pleasing a balance between printed and white space. Additionally, if the book is very thick, you can make a book with so small a margin that people are breaking it’s spine to read it. Outside margins differ between hard and soft binding selections, as they all have different minimum trim requirements.

Basic layout formats include a single block/column and two columns of the same width for books. Generally books no larger than 8.5×11″ don’t have more than two columns because it is rarely economical. Depending on your content and format selections, the question of economics for one and two column may change.